Deceased online. Not a subject you see online very much, most of us don’t think about this eventuality, but quite an important one and it is better to be prepared.

I had a Facebook friend a few years ago, that I learned was deceased online. It was only in a random post from a mutual friend that I learned of this sad fact. It was shocking to learn that she had passed away a month ago previously to this post. I had to message our mutual friend to find out what happened. This is not what I would want to have happened concerning my own death. I’ll bet you feel the same. So here is content that I have found to make it easier for friends and family concerning digital legacy.

Steve Dotto of Dottotech had a Wednesday webinar recently discussing this subject of being deceased online. He has added a Thinkific min-course for all the details concerning this much-needed information for free, I might add. Click his image below to sign up for the course.

Do you have a Will?

While you probably have created a will that outlines what should happen to your possessions, what about your online property? I have a will and I will be letting my executor know about this article so she knows about my online business property.

Social Media Accounts

What happens to all the social media accounts, websites, hosting, domains and ads we have online? The bank accounts, multiple user names, and passwords to access sites for work, social media accounts, email accounts, online portfolios? You may be the only person who can legally and physically access them right now. So what happens to them in the event of your passing?

I have a significant online presence, likely you do as well. Our lives are tied to the digital world. Our social media feeds are full of our personal info, images, shared moments, snapshots of our lives frozen in time. Do you just want to lose all of that when you are deceased online? Ask your family and loved ones what they want. Particularly photos. See the end of the article about this.

Something everyone should think about but especially if:

you use a lot of monthly subscription tools

you have a significant other who will need access to your accounts

you have a business partner(s) who will need access to your accounts

you own an online business have a significant online presence multiple social media accounts

Even mentioned: Points reward cards, Tim Horton cards, Air Miles… etc

Web sites and domains in your name linked to your chosen payment method. If you want these to be passed to someone, you need to make provision in your will. Speak to your lawyer and executor

Information File for Significant other

I know my spouse will not know where to go to do all of this so I suggest that you make a list of the hostings services you use, all the websites with usernames and passwords and the various places you host your online portfolios. Make a file – Deceased online. Tell you’re significant other about this file on your computer. It will have all the info they will need to know.

Each social media platform handles this subject on digital legacy a little differently (more in the course. He also has a great video as well.)

Facebook has a legacy contact for you to add a friend and walks you through setting it up.

Google has an inactive account manager with a set time limit.

Instagram has a memorize account request – locked as a shrine.

LinkedIn has a family or friend request removal, a list of info needed.

Pinterest has an email address to send to: name password email info.

Snapchat needs the username and password and precise instructions on what to do.

Click pic – for this mini-course

In your deceased online file:

Website name:

username:

password:

Hosting:

password:

Domain names:

password:

Social Media

Facebook:

Facebook pages:

Facebook Group:

Pinterest:

Twitter:

Instagram:

LinkedIn:

Google+:

Any particular friend that might be able to help your spouse with information: Facebook link:

You also might want to save your favorite images. Rest easy knowing your content will always be safe in your permanent digital home at Forever. All of this is possible because of the Forever™ Guarantee and our easy-to-use web, mobile, and desktop apps. You can do so for $29 a mth at: https://www.forever.com/forever_storage

This subject about being deceased online I thought was handled so well by Steve Dotto. I wanted to write an article when he first had the subject on his program. However he said he would have further info in the way of a mini-course, so I waited till he had this done. The course is short but has a lot of information in it. I hope it is useful to you.

Hi Chery,
I know I hadn’t really thought about this either until Steve Dotto’s webinar. As he says it’s not anything you want to think about. However, it is something to attend to. Putting it all on something that is easily accessible is important.They did not mention Pay pal at all, would you let me know what they have to say on this subject, please.I will include it in the article. Thanks, Girlfriend!

That’s such an interesting article. I have made sure my partner knows about what I do online and given copies of passwords in case of anything but never thought any further than that. Now I have an online business that is making a regular income I do need to include it in my will for sure.

Hi Mandy,
Yes I thought the subject was very interesting too. Yes we don’t think to include our business in our will, I don’t know why. Just probably never thought of it. Good thing that your business partner has all this info. It’s really a good thing to do with your business. Thanks for your comments.

Thanks, Kathryn, for addressing this important topic. It’s so important to make sure someone knows how to take care of your online presence when you’re no longer here to do it. I’m lucky that I have a business partner who has access to all my accounts, etc. The one thing he doesn’t know is what to do with it all!

Hi Ruth,
It is important that someone particularly your business partner have access to all of this vital information. The thing to do with it all is in the course and the video. Every platform has a different approach. Facebook will memorialize your account if you set it up to do so. Then people can post about the deceased person. Something I would like rather than just be deleted. Thanks for your comments.

Ironically, I have on my goal list for this year to update my end of life arrangements. I never thought about dealing with social media issues but this makes a lot of sense. Also, I have a small fortune invested in images that are safely stored in the Cloud and it would be nice to arrange for someone to benefit from that stockpile rather than have it just sitting there gathering dust. Lots to think about, but thank you so much for providing a framework for the task!

Hi Marquita,
Good timing then, it’s important to get these things looked after. I wonder if in your will you might leave those images that you have invested a lot of money in. Seems to be the thing to do as you already have them stored in the cloud you wouldn’t need the photo image saving service that they suggested in the course. I do love your images btw. You are welcome for the information. Something everyone in blogging should consider.Thanks for your comments.

Hi Elise,
I had not thought of it either. Something you tend to avoid thinking about, that’s true. It was because of Steve Dotto that I thought of writing an article about it. He has a great course with a video about all of this. I feature Steve in my Facebook Group every Wednesday. Thanks for commenting.

I have notes about my business affairs, but my sons never seem to want to know – or perhaps they think it would upset me. They know passwords and would find their way about my computer. Like I did when my partner died.

The social media can go really – that’s mainly for my online business rather than personal. My photos are on my PC and backed up in the cloud – but we’re not really a “photo-ey” family.

Hi Joy,
Oh I know, my son never seems to want to hear about things like this either. As long as they can find their way on your computer.
Condolences on your partner Joy. Your photos backed up on the cloud that good. What are your wishes for your business though, perhaps putting it in your will might be a good idea. Thanks for your comments.

What immediately came to mind is all the subscription payments, linked to joint accounts, that my partner couldn’t cancel without access to my details. I do have my passwords securely saved but there are so many of them I doubt anyone could make sense of them! I have a reminder that pops up weekly about updating my will. It’s been there for 6 months plus! Thanks for these reminders, Kathryn.

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